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JOHN EASDALE

“public radio”

November 14th,2025 by Bruce R. Kilgour

John Easdale – perhaps best known as the charismatic songwriter / lead singer of Dramarama – is no stranger to radio. After all, as he wrote in the beautiful song “Incredible” from his band’s 1993 album “Hi-Fi Sci-Fi” – “and we can’t live without our radio.”

Easdale has just released a six-song EP entitled “public radio,” and the timing could not be more relevant. The public radio format has seen significant challenges in 2025 due to a sudden loss of federal funding. The executive order from the current administration last May directed the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to stop providing funds to  NPR and PBS affiliates.

The new EP is a benefit project, and all proceeds from the (physical CD only) release will be donated to Brookdale New Jersey public radio station 90.5 The Night.

The station is located just an hour away from Wayne – the birthplace of Dramarama, both the band and all five of its original members.

It should be noted that this is only the second time in 43 years that Easdale has released a project under his own name. His magnificent solo album “Bright Side” was released in 1997 on the Harvey Star / Eggbert Records label.

Easdale has been a frequent – and popular – guest on numerous radio stations over the last four decades, most notably on the station that pretty much launched their massive radio hit  “Anything, Anything (I’ll Give You),” KROQ-FM in Los Angeles.

That song became one of the most requested songs in the station’s history and still receives frequent airplay to this day.

However, it is public – not corporate – radio that Easdale loves most, and he states it four(!) times in the inner sleeve of his beautifully designed new EP.

The six songs are compiled from several appearances he’s made at 90.5, and the acoustic selections are split evenly between his own compositions and three cool cover songs. “Work For Food” is from “Hi-Fi Sci-Fi,” and both “Good Night America” and “Physical Poetry” are tracks from the 2005 “comeback” LP “Everybody Dies.”

The 1936 song “When Did You Leave Heaven” also appeared on “Everybody Dies,” and was the only non-original track from that LP. Rounding out the CD are Bruce Springsteen’s “Hungry Heart” and the relatively obscure 1973 Lou Reed song “The Kids” from “Berlin.”

The following information is taken directly from the Dramarama / John Easdale store website: “All proceeds from the record will be donated to 90.5 The Night. But more than that, my hope is that listeners realize the impact and importance of public radio stations in their home states and support them with donations, advocacy and the gifts of their time and patronage.”

In his most recent Facebook post, Easdale noted that early sales of the CD are brisk, but he is eager to send out tons more to raise even more funds for his beloved station 90.5 The Night.

The CD is $20, and there is a cool deal comprised of two CDs for $40 with a reduced shipping charge. The CD can be picked up on the band website.

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Header Photo by Danny Clinch

SID 251113 | TRACI TURNER | EDITOR